The Polish Jubliee Collection includes booklets containing parish and community histories, photographs, and local advertisements celebrating the Jubilee, other anniversaries, and events in over twenty Massachusetts Polish American parishes. Among other items, the collection includes booklets furnishing histories and names associated with Polish American groups such as the Brotherly Aid Society and Polish American Veterans, a paper on the history of the Chicopee Polish Community, a pamphlet including songs and recipes, photographs, and other printed material.

Terms of Access and Use:

The collection is open for research.

Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries

Biographical Note

After the failure to gain independence of Russia in 1863 and years of political and social unrest, Poles emigrated to the United States in ever increasing numbers, peaking in the 1880s. In Western Massachusetts between 1890 and 1910, immigrants created a string of institutions to support their community, including social clubs, benevolent societies, veterans' groups, and a long string of Polish Catholic churches.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Polish Jubilee Collection consists primarily of commemorative booklets containing parish and community histories, photographs, and local advertisements, that celebrate the Jubilee, other anniversaries, and events in over twenty Massachusetts Polish American parishes. It also includes booklets furnishing histories and names associated with Polish American groups, such as the Brotherly Aid Society, Medical and Dental Association, Polish National Home Association, Polish American Veterans, and the Polish Women's Alliance.

Among other items are a paper, "The Dawn of Polish Independentism in New England: Separatists of Chicopee, Massachusetts" by William Wolkovich-Valkavicius; a pamphlet "Images of a Polish Christmas Wigilia" by Sophia Kielb 1988, including songs and recipes; photographs of Our Lady of Czestochowa Church in Turner's Falls and of Fr. Alfons A. Skoniecki; a booklet, "Springfield's Ethnic Heritage: The Polish Community" by Barry Schatz, 1976; and two books, Last of the Titans: Monsignor-Colonel Alphonse A. Skoniecki of Massachusetts, by Daniel S. Buczek, 1986, and Society of Christ in America, a church history detailing the life of a priest and the immigrant communities he served; and Struggle for Life, by "Laudator" 1971, which contains a bibliography and details the dangers of communism.

Three Rivers: In Honor of the 50th Anniversary of Priestly Service of Alphonse A. Skoniecki, SS Peter and Paul Church; Dedication of the Newly Renovated St. Stanislaus Polish Lyceum; Ordination to the Priesthood of Raymond A. Soltys; Diamond Jubilee, SS Peter and Paul Church; Mass of Thanksgiving, Pope John Paul II Polish-American Foundation, Bishop Czczepan Wesely

1967, 1972, 1979, 1980, 1985

Box 3:47

Three Rivers: Last of the Titans: Msgr. Col. Alphone A. Skoniecki of Massachusetts, by Daniel S. Buczek

1986

Box 4:48

Turners Falls: Holy Rosary Society, Our Lady of Czestochowa, 25th anniversary booklet; Souvenir of the 30th Year of the Founding of the Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish; Newspaper Articles on history of Turners Falls and formation of Our Lady of Czestochowa Church

The following terms represent persons, organizations, and topics documented in this collection. Use these headings to search for additional materials on this web site, in the Five College Library Catalog, or in other library catalogs and databases.